Rotatably scoring dart board

ABSTRACT

A dart game comprising a stand-up or hanging board having a target supported thereon for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. A plurality of darts are provided and, when thrown, the darts attach to the target. Each attaching dart tends to turn the target about its rotational axis by an amount which is a function of the radial and angular position of the dart on the target, and its relation to other darts attached thereto. Scoring means responsive to angular and/or directional target movement is provided.

[111 3,784,201 Jan. 8, 1974' States Patent 1 Wyman et al.

[ ROTATABLY SCORING DART BOARD 2,179,471 11/1939 2,07 l 4 9 Wyman, OwmgsM118; 3 373 322 25192; $3 William J. Bichell, Phoenix; Humber Oliveri,Randallstown, all of Md.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin SiskindAttorney-Joseph R. Slotnik [73] Assignee: Granta Corporation, Baltimore,Md. [22] Filed: Jan. 12, 1972 ABSTRACT 211 App]. No.: 217,311

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radial and angular position of the dart on the target, and its relationto other darts attached thereto. Scor- [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS ing means responsive to angular and/or directional targetmovement is provided.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 ROTATABLY SCORING DART BOARD SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a novel dart gamewhich adds the dimension of target movement by dart placement to thescoring. The game includes a target supported upon a base and turnableby the force or weight of one or more darts attached thereto. Scoring isachieved by the degree and/or direction of movement of the target by theattaching darts. Thus, each player must consider the force his dart willproduce and the relation of that force to the force of other darts, ifany, on the board in selecting a target area in which to place his dart.In one version, each player attains a total score by target movementachieved through placement of his darts alone; in another version,players may attempt to counteract one anothers scoring by resultanttarget movement when all darts are attached thereto; in still anotherversion, sequential placement of all players darts on the target untilall are so placed causes progressive target movement, with differentdirectional movement accounting for scoring of different players. Itwill be understood that other methods of scoring are contemplated, andthat as used herein, the term dart is understood to mean any ofa varietyof missile or projectile type objects thrown or propelled toward atarget and having means for attachment thereto.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide a noveldart game which includes a target movable in response to resultantforces thereon caused by the position of darts attached thereto and/orrelative to other attached darts, and wherein scoring is achieved by thedegree and/or direction of target movement.

Further important objects of the present invention are to provide anovel dart game of the above character which can employ a variety ofdifferent types of scoring, and which can be played in different ways,such as, individually with individual scoring, player against playerwith counteracting scoring determined by resultant target movementthrough the forces of all players darts attached to the target, andplayer against player with individual scoring determined by targetdirectional movement caused by resultant forces of all players darts onthe target.

Additional important objects of the present invention are to provide anovel dart game of the above character which is relatively inexpensiveto manufacture, rugged in construction, and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentfrom a consideration of the detailed description to follow taken inconjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa dart gameboard and target embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the board and target of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 1 and showing the target moved andscoring achieved as a result of darts attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 44thereof and showing one form of dart attached to the target;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a dart game board and target and embodying amodified for of scoring arrangement;

FIG. 6 is a view of a portion of FIG. 5 showing the target moved andscoring achieved as a result of darts attached thereto;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with parts re moved,illustrating the interconnected target and scoring assembly of FIGS. 5and 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along the line 88 thereof;and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along the line 99thereof.

BROAD STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Broadly described, the presentinvention relates to a dart game device comprising a base, a targetrotatably supported upon said base, scoring means operable in responseto turning movement of said target upon said base, and dart meansattachable to said target and operable to turn said target as a resultof the position of said dart means on said target and relative to theposition of other dart means on said target.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart game devicecomprising a base, a movable target supported upon said base, cooperablescoring means on said target and said base and registerable uponmovement of said target relative to said base, dart means adapted toattach to said target and operable to move said target relative to saidbase, whereby to register a score on said scoring means.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a novel gamedevice comprising a board, target means supported upon said board formovement, weighted members attachable to said target means at selectedpositions thereon and operable to move said target means in response totheir position thereon.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a novel gamedevice comprising a base, a generally flat target rotatably supportedupon said base for turning movement about a generally horizontal axisdisposed centrally of said target, dart means attachable to said targetand operable to turn said target in a direction and through an anglewhich is a function of the angular position of said dart means relativeto a vertical plane including said target axis, a function of the radialposition of said dart means relative to said axis, and a function of therelative position of said dart means relative to other dart means onsaid target.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart gamecomprising a board, a circular disc rotatably supported upon said board,scoring means on said board and disc and alignable in different angularpositions of said disc to register different scores, said board beingpositionable so as to dispose said disc in a generally vertical planeand rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, said disc being adaptedto turn in response to the weight of dart means attached thereto.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a dart gamedevice comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said boardfor movement about an axis, said board being positionable to disposesaid target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, saidtarget being turnable about said axis in a direction and through anangle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dartmeans attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring meansincluding a pair of scoring devices, one of said scoring devices beingoperable in response to turning movement of said target in one directiononly, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response toturning movement of said target in the other direction only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now more specifically to the drawings, adart game device embodying the present invention is illustratedgenerally at 11 in FIGS. 1-3 and is seen to include a base 13 shown as agenerally rectangular board. A target 15 illustrated as a generallycircular, flat disc, is rotatably supported upon the base by spindlemeans 17 for free rotation about a central axis of the target 15.

Dart means including one or more darts 19 is provided and is adapted tobe propelled toward and attach to the target 15. As shown in FIG. 4,each dart 19 may include an elongated body having a relatively bluntweighted forward end 21 and a stabilizing rearward end 23. The forwardend 21 is provided with a tip covering of bur-like, hooked projections25 set into a base fabric 27. Molded plastic material of this generaltype is available under the Trademark Velcro owned by VelcroCorporation, New York.

The illustrated target 15 includes a core 29 covered with a fabric-likematerial 31. For example, the material 31 may be a woven looped fabric,a flockulated carpet material, or any other suitable material whichpresents a suitably retentative face for the bur-like hooks 25 coveringthe end of the dart 19. The darts 19 are easily removed from the target15 when desired by pulling, the hooks 25 and the fabric material 31having enough give" to allow easy intentional release of the dart 19from the target 15.

In use, the board 13 is positioned substantially vertically as byhanging on a wall 32, so that the spindle means 17 is disposedsubstantially horizontal. The darts 19 are propelled, as by throwing,toward the target 15. The weighted dart end 21 causes the bur-like hooks25 to strike the target surface 31 and, if properly thrown, the dart 19attaches to the target 15. The dart 19 has weight and causes the target15 to turn about the axis of the spindle 17 by an amount and in adirection which is a function of the angular and radial position of thedart 19 on the target 15. If other darts 19 are already attached to thetarget 15, the target will move, withplacement of each additional dart19 thereon, by an amount determined by the resultant forces of all dartsl9 acting thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, this resultant is thevector sum of the weighted darts 19 acting about the axis 17 of thetarget 15.

Various types of scoring means may be provided. One of the simplest, andmost intriguing, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and includes an angularindicia segment 33 printed on the board 13. The target 15 is providedwith indicator means, for example, arrows 35 adapted to register withprogressively numbered indicia on the angular segment 33. In theillustrated version, the arrows 35 are spaced apart a distance and thesegment 33 extends through an angle so that one arrow 35 will registerwith some area of the segment 33 for any angular position of the target15.

It will be appreciated that the player is required to accuratelyposition his darts 19 on the target, especially when two or more darts19 are used, in order for the registered score" to be a maximum. Thus,it is necessary for the player to take into account resultant vectorgravity forces acting upon all the positioned darts 19 attached to thetarget, and the effect of any additional darts 19 he may throw, indetermining where best to position these darts 19. This is somewhat moreof a challange and requires more skill than many conventional dartgames.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the dart game device of thisinvention mey be used in another manner, that is, with an opposingplayer or players trying to counteract the score of his or theiropponents by proper dart placement on the target. Thus, one player maytry to register a maximum score by his placement of darts, while anopposing player attempts, by his dart placement, to reduce or minimizethat score.

A modified form of dart game and scoring device embodying the presentinvention is illustrated generally at 51 in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is seen toinclude a hollow base or board 53 having a circular target disc 55rotatably supported thereon by a spindle 57. The target disc 55 iscovered with a fabric-like material 59 and is adapted to have one ormore hooked tip darts 61 attached thereto. Thus, the target 55 turnsabout the axis of the spindle 57 through an angle and in a directionwhich is a function of the placement position of darts 61 thereon andthe relation of these darts 61 relative to one another if more than onedart is attached.

The scoring device employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 58 utilizes apair of scoring wheels 63, 65, respectively connected to a shaft 67 byoppositely acting ratchet clutches. One such clutch is illustrated at 69in FIG. 9 as connecting shaft 67 and wheel 63 and includes a pawl 68pivoted by a pin 70 within the wheel 63 and normally biased by a leafspring 74 into engagement with ratchet teeth 72 on a hub 76 rigid withthe shaft 67. Thus, when the shaft 67 and hub 76 turn in acounterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 9, the wheel 63 turnstherewith. Clockwise movement of the shaft 67 is accompanied by nomovement of the wheel 63 since the teeth 72 can ratchet past the pawl68.

Scoring wheel is connected to shaft 67 by an oppositely disposed ratchetclutch (not shown) so that wheel 65 turns with shaft 67 when the latterturns in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 9, and does not turnwhen shaft 67 turns counterclockwise. Progressive indicia 70, 72 areprinted in opposite fashion on wheels 63, 65 as shown, to registerprogressive scoring on these wheels as they turn with rotation of theshaft 67.

The spindle 57 has a pulley 71 fixed thereon and interconnected by anendless belt 73 to a pulley 75 fixed to the shaft 67. Thus, when thetarget 55 turns in a clockwise direction, the scoring wheel 63 turnstherewith through its ratchet 69 to register a score by means of indicia70, while the scoring wheel 65 remains stationary. Conversely, when thetarget 55 turns counterclockwise, scoring wheel 65 turns to register ascore by means of indicia 72, while scoring wheel 63 remains stationary.

It will be appreciated that the scoring mechanism described here can beutilized in several ways. In one way, opposing players can attempt toturn the target 55 in opposite directions to register independent scoreson wheels 63, 65, with all darts 61 of both players ultimately beingattached to the target 55. In another way, one player may first throwall his darts 61 to register his score on one wheel 63, remove his darts61, and the other player then throw his darts to register his score onthe other wheel 65. In still another way, each player may throw all hisdarts 61 to register a total score on both wheels 63, 65, remove hisdarts 61 and set the scoring wheels 63, 65 back to zero, and the otherplayer likewise throws all his darts to register total score on bothWheels. Still other playing and/or scoring methods are, of course,possible.

By the foregoing, there has been disclosed a novel dart game embodyingthe present invention. However, it will be understood that variousadditions, substitutions, modifications, and omissions may be made toillustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

We claim:

l. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supportedupon said board for movement about an axis, said board beingpositionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axisgenerally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in adirection and through an angle which are functions of the angular andradial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative toeach other, scoring means including a pair of scoring devices, one ofsaid scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement ofsaid target in one direction only, the other of said scoring devicesbeing operable in response to turning movement of said target in theother direction only.

2. A dart game device comprising a base, a movable target supported uponsaid base, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base andregisterable upon movement of said target relative to said base, saidscoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum toa maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale inresponse to movement of said target relative to said base, dart meansineluding a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to saidtarget and operable to move said target relative to said base inresponse to the relative position of the darts on said target and theposition of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register ascore on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured tosaid target and acting thereon.

3 A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supportedupon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis,cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerableupon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring meansincluding a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a'maximum, andindicator means registering a score on said scale in response torotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including aplurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target andoperable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to theradial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radialand angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby toregister a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the dartssecured to said target and acting thereon.

4. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supportedupon said board for movement about an axis, said board beingpositionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axisgenerally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in adirection and through an angle which are functions of the angular andradial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative toeach other, scoring means including a pair of independent scoringdevices each interconnected with said target by one-way clutch means,one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turningmovement of said target in one direction, the other of said scoringdevices being operable in response to turning movement of said target inthe other direction.

5. A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supportedupon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis,cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerableupon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring meansincluding a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, andindicator means registering a score on said scale in response torotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including aplurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target andoperable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to theradial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radialand angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby toregister a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the dartssecured to said target and acting thereon, said scoring means includingtwo independent means operable in response to clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation, respectively, of said target.

6. A dart game device comprising a base, a target disc supported forrotation upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis,cooperable scoring means on said target disc and said base andregisterable upon rotation of said target disc relative to said base,said scoring means including a progeressive scale extending from aminimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on saidscale in response to rotation of said target disc relative to said base,dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attachto said target disc and operable to rotate said target disc relative tosaid base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts onthe target and relative to one another, whereby to register a score onsaid scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to saidtarget disc and acting thereon, said scoring means including an arcuateindicia segment extending at least partially around the periphery ofsaid target disc, and pointer means on said disc registerable with saidarcuate segment.

1. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said board for movement about an axis, said board being positionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in a direction and through an angle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring means including a pair of scoring devices, one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in one direction only, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in the other direction only.
 2. A dart game device comprising a base, a movable target supported upon said base, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon movement of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to movement of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to move said target relative to said base in response to the relative position of the darts on said target and the position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon.
 3. A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supported upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radial and angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon.
 4. A dart game device comprising a board, a target rotatably supported upon said board for movement about an axis, said board being positionable to dispose said target generally vertical and said axis generally horizontal, said target being turnable about said axis in a direction and through an angle which are functions of the angular and radial positions of dart means attached to said target and relative to each other, scoring means including a pair of independent scoring devices each interconnected with said target by one-way clutch means, one of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in one direction, the other of said scoring devices being operable in response to turning movement of said target in the other direction.
 5. A dart game device comprising a base, a target rotatably supported upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target relative to said base, said scoring means including a progressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rotation of said target relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target and operable to rotate said target relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on said target and the radial and angular position of the darts relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target and acting thereon, said scoring means including two independent means operable in response to clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, respectively, of said target.
 6. A dart game device comprising a base, a target disc supported for rotation upon said base for movement about a generally horizontal axis, cooperable scoring means on said target disc and said base and registerable upon rotation of said target disc relative to said base, said scoring means including a progeressive scale extending from a minimum to a maximum, and indicator means registering a score on said scale in response to rOtation of said target disc relative to said base, dart means including a plurality of darts adapted to successively attach to said target disc and operable to rotate said target disc relative to said base in response to the radial and angular position of the darts on the target and relative to one another, whereby to register a score on said scoring means which is a resultant of the darts secured to said target disc and acting thereon, said scoring means including an arcuate indicia segment extending at least partially around the periphery of said target disc, and pointer means on said disc registerable with said arcuate segment. 